Dáil Éireann - Volume 500 - 09 February, 1999

Written Answers - Grant Payments.

Mr. Sheehan Mr. Sheehan

176. Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment of a fodder scheme grant. [3649/99]

Mr. Walsh Mr. Walsh

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh): In order to qualify under the 1998 winter fodder scheme a producer must have a herd number in one of the designated DEDs. The DEDs were designated on the basis of an examination by Teagasc of areas most affected by the bad weather.

As the person named did not have a herdnumber in one of the designated DEDs he was not entitled to payment under the 1998 winter fodder package.

As the Deputy is aware a new fodder scheme has now been agreed by the Government, details of which are being finalised and will be announced shortly.

Mr. Sheehan Mr. Sheehan

177. Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a fodder scheme grant. [3650/99]

Mr. Walsh Mr. Walsh

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh): In order to qualify under the 1998 winter fodder scheme a producer must have a herd number in one of the designated DEDs. The DEDs were designated on the basis of an examination by Teagasc of areas most affected by the bad weather.

175

[175] The herd number referred by the Deputy is not in any of the designated DEDs. Therefore the person named was not entitled to payment under the 1998 winter fodder package.

As the Deputy is aware a new fodder scheme has now been agreed by the Government, details of which are being finalised and will be announced shortly.

Mr. Perry Mr. Perry

178. Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if cattle headage and beef premium payments will be released for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if area aid difficulties will be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3651/99]

Mr. Walsh Mr. Walsh

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh): A query arose in relation to two parcels of land that are being claimed by another herdowner. Maps have issued to both the herd- owners concerned with the aim of having the matter clarified. Payments cannot issue until the area aid difficulties are resolved.

Mr. Perry Mr. Perry

179. Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Sligo has not received a hardship grant in view of the serious financial pressure he is under; if payment will issue immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3652/99]

Mr. Walsh Mr. Walsh

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh): An essential prerequisite for eligibility under the hardship grant scheme is that the holding of the herdowner in question remains restricted following a full herd retest. The herd of the person named must have a full herd retest. His eligibility for hardship grant compensation will be determined when the full herd retest is completed and outcome known.

Mr. Sheehan Mr. Sheehan

180. Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment of a fodder scheme grant. [3663/99]

Mr. Walsh Mr. Walsh

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh): In order to qualify under the 1998 winter fodder scheme a producer must have a herd number in one of the designated DEDs. The DEDs were designated on the basis of an examination by Teagasc of areas most affected by the bad weather.

As the person named did not have a herd number in one of the designated DEDs he was not entitled to payment under the 1998 winter fodder package.

As the Deputy is aware a new fodder scheme has now been agreed by the Government, details of which are being finalised and will be announced shortly.

Mr. Higgins (Mayo) Mr. Higgins (Mayo)

176

181. Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason persons (details [176] supplied) in counties Mayo and Galway have their headage payments delayed as a result of an area aid query; the reason for failure of the area aid unit to advise these claimants of the reason for the delay; and when the matter will finally be resolved. [3664/99]

Mr. Walsh Mr. Walsh

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh): As stated in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 421 of 27 January 1999, the first person named did not submit sufficient maps for all of the farm with his 1998 area aid application form and my Department has issued maps in order to enable him to identify the remainder of his land.

My Department wrote to the second person named in order to resolve an overlap problem on her application. Her reply has now been received and the processing of the application is being finalised. Any outstanding payments due will issue as soon as possible.

The remaining five people named have all received payments due. However, my Department had to write to the fourth and sixth named persons in order to resolve errors on their applications.

Dáil Éireann 500 Written Answers Grant Payments.

Questions

19990209